Air France vs Vietnam Airlines

Overview

Air France (legally Société Air France) is the flag carrier of France. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 30 August 1933 and is headquartered at Roissypôle, Charles de Gaulle Airport, in Tremblay-en-France. It is a subsidiary of the Air France–KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance. Its subsidiaries include Transavia France and Air France Hop. Its IATA code is AF, ICAO code AFR and call sign AIRFRANS.

Network and hubs

The main hub is Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Focus cities are Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Toulouse. Wikipedia lists about 184 destinations, covering Europe, Africa, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia, plus France's overseas territories.

Fleet

The Air France–KLM fleet page reports that Air France had 229 aircraft at 31 December 2025, all in operation. These comprised 120 long-haul aircraft, 107 medium-haul aircraft and two freighters. In 2025 the airline took delivery of six Airbus A350-900s and 11 Airbus A220-300s. It also removed 12 A320-family aircraft, four A330s and two A380s. Renewal continues, with the group aiming for up to 80% new-generation aircraft by 2030 (Air France-KLM, October 2026). Figures for the Air France Hop regional fleet and for Transavia are separate.

On board

Baggage guides list Economy, Premium Economy, Business and La Première cabins, though not every aircraft has all four. Seat pitch, entertainment, Wi-Fi and meal details were not confirmed from the sources used here. Check the airline's cabin pages for the specific aircraft type before booking.

Good to know

• Cabin baggage: one bag of up to 55 x 35 x 25 cm plus one small item of up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm. The combined weight limit is 12 kg in Economy and 18 kg in Business, according to MyBaggage.
• Economy Light: this fare includes only the small personal item and no free checked bag, according to eDreams. Standard and Flex fares add a cabin bag.
• Loyalty: the frequent-flyer programme is Flying Blue, shared with KLM.
• Parent group: Air France–KLM, with Air France CEO Anne Rigail.

Allowances and fees vary by fare and route, so confirm them on the airline's website.

Overview

Vietnam Airlines is the flag carrier of Vietnam. According to Wikipedia, it traces its origins to Vietnam Civil Aviation, founded on 15 January 1956. It is headquartered at 200 Nguyen Son in Hanoi's Long Bien district and is the parent of the low-cost carrier Pacific Airlines and of Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO). A 2026 outlook report describes the government as the controlling shareholder, with Japan's ANA Holdings as a strategic partner. The airline joined the SkyTeam alliance in June 2010 and is listed on the Ho Chi Minh City stock exchange.

Network and hubs

The main hubs are Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Da Nang is a secondary hub, and Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are focus cities. Wikipedia lists 65 destinations and, in the body text, 117 routes across 19 countries, excluding codeshares. Long-haul services reach Europe, Australia and the United States, alongside a dense network in Northeast and Southeast Asia.

Fleet

Wikipedia gives a fleet of 97 aircraft in 2026 (retrieved October 2026). The outlook report describes a mainline fleet of Airbus A321ceo and A321neo narrowbodies, A320neo aircraft, and widebody Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft. Turboprops are operated under the VASCO brand. The same report mentions plans for up to 30 more widebodies for delivery between 2028 and 2030.

On board

• Business: lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout on the 787 and A350; 2-2 recliner seats with 45 in pitch on the A321.
• Premium Economy: 38–42 in pitch, only on 787-9 and A350 aircraft, with hot meals on every flight.
• Economy: 31–32 in pitch and 32 in seat width.
• Meals: refreshments on flights over 90 minutes, and hot meals on flights over two hours.
• Entertainment: seatback screens on the A350 and 787, and streaming to personal devices on the A321neo.

Wi-Fi details were not confirmed in the sources reviewed.

Good to know

• Checked baggage: on Europe and Australia itineraries, the airline's baggage page lists Economy at one 23 kg piece, Premium Economy at two 23 kg pieces and Business at two 32 kg pieces. Allowances vary by route, notably for Japan.
• Cabin baggage: the hand baggage rules allow Economy 12 kg in total, made up of one piece of up to 10 kg plus an accessory.
• Loyalty: the Lotusmiles programme is free to join. Miles can be earned on Vietnam Airlines Group, SkyTeam and partner airlines.
• Safety: Wikipedia, citing the Aviation Safety Network, records six accidents or incidents since 1951, three of them fatal.